Forest stand type preference of Sirex nigricornis (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in Mississippi

A field experiment was conducted to better understand what type of forest stand structure (un-managed pine plantation, managed pine plantation, mixed pine-hardwood forest, old growth forest) a native woodwasp (Sirex nigricornis) prefers in Mississippi. Lindgren funnels baited with mesh bags containing pine slash (changed every two weeks) were used to trap the woodwaps during the Fall of 2011. Fixed-plot forest measurements were also recorded in each stand. Analyses was conducted using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.2. Mean weekly woodwasp captures were significantly greater (p=0.0143,F_3,569=3.93) in un-managed pine plantations (21.42 ­+ 7.74) than in managed pine plantations (11.42mixed pine-hardwood forests (10.58, and old growth forests (7.33. Sirex noctilio, a recently introduced pest to the northeastern United States, could pose a great threat to Southeastern pine forests.  Further research might allow measurements of the abundance of S. nigricornis to serve as an indicator for land managers to determine if their stands are at high risk of S. noctilio attack.